← The solution in a story lesson New set →

Problem and Solution Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 4: The solution in a story · Set 263 · 40 questions
TalentJR

Writer's tip (Problem → solution): First find the problem. Then find the part where the problem is fixed — usually the sentence just before the ending. The solution must fix THIS problem; a fix for something else does not count.

NameDateTime takenScore ___ / 40
  1. 1.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is solved?
    On a busy Monday, Meera rode the school bus to class. At lunch, Meera saw that her tiffin box was missing. Meera and her friend Tenzin searched seat by seat. The red box was hiding under the very last seat. Meera shared her parathas with Tenzin to say thank you.
    (a) On a busy Monday, Meera rode the school bus to class. (b) At lunch, Meera saw that her tiffin box was missing. (c) The red box was hiding under the very last seat.
  2. 2.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is solved?
    In the dry season, Lakshmi walked to the village square. The old well had dried up, and people had no water. Lakshmi asked everyone to dig a pond to catch the rain. Raju and the others dug every evening for a month. When the rains came, Lakshmi’s pond filled to the brim.
    (a) In the dry season, Lakshmi walked to the village square. (b) Raju and the others dug every evening for a month. (c) The old well had dried up, and people had no water.
  3. 3.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Her model volcano will not fizz”
    (a) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz (b) The window is opened to let it out (c) He changes into a clean spare uniform
  4. 4.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is solved?
    One Monday morning, Aryan sat down in his classroom. He found that he had left his homework at home. Aryan told Ms Gill the truth before she even asked. Ms Gill let him bring it the next day. Aryan made a checklist so he would never forget again.
    (a) He found that he had left his homework at home. (b) One Monday morning, Aryan sat down in his classroom. (c) Ms Gill let him bring it the next day.
  5. 5.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
    One bright morning, Anjali went boating on the backwaters. Water began to seep in through a crack in the boat. Anjali pressed her rubber slipper hard over the crack. Appa rowed fast to the shore while she held it there. Back on land, Anjali and Appa laughed with relief.
    (a) A boat starts to leak (b) His name is called on the loudspeaker (c) A rubber slipper plugs the crack
  6. 6.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
    On a festive night, Zoya danced in the wedding hall. Aunt Lata cried out that she had lost a gold earring. Zoya looked carefully under every chair and table. The earring was shining beside the flower stand. Zoya gave it back, and Aunt Lata thanked her warmly.
    (a) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch (b) An aunt loses a gold earring (c) The earring is found beside a flower stand
  7. 7.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is solved?
    One quiet Sunday, Saanvi was visiting her grandpa’s flat. Grandpa could not find his reading glasses anywhere. Saanvi looked under the sofa and behind every cushion. At last she laughed, for the glasses were on his head! Grandpa chuckled and gave Saanvi a big hug.
    (a) One quiet Sunday, Saanvi was visiting her grandpa’s flat. (b) At last she laughed, for the glasses were on his head! (c) Grandpa could not find his reading glasses anywhere.
  8. 8.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is solved?
    During the Christmas holidays, Maria went to the beach. Each time she built a castle, the waves washed it away. Maria thought hard and moved further up the sand. Her friend Kunal dug a moat to keep the water out. This time Maria’s castle stood tall until sunset.
    (a) During the Christmas holidays, Maria went to the beach. (b) Each time she built a castle, the waves washed it away. (c) Her friend Kunal dug a moat to keep the water out.
  9. 9.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is solved?
    One Sunday evening, Sahil took the lift in a tall building. The lift jerked and stopped between two floors. Sahil stayed calm and pressed the red alarm button. Mrs Bose, the guard, called the lift mechanic at once. Soon the doors opened, and Sahil stepped out safely.
    (a) The lift jerked and stopped between two floors. (b) One Sunday evening, Sahil took the lift in a tall building. (c) Mrs Bose, the guard, called the lift mechanic at once.
  10. 10.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
    One misty dawn, Tenzin woke up in his hill village. A baby yak had wandered away from the herd. Tenzin followed its hoofprints down the muddy path. He found it by a stream and gently led it back. His sister Pema gave Tenzin the first cup of butter tea.
    (a) A baby yak wanders away from the herd (b) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak (c) She sings loudly without a microphone
  11. 11.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “The microphone stops working before her song”
    (a) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak (b) She sings loudly without a microphone (c) The blue splash is turned into a lake
  12. 12.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A goat runs loose and eats the spinach”
    (a) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out (b) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner (c) The pot is moved into the sunshine
  13. 13.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A marble rolls into a deep drain”
    (a) Clay on a stick lifts the marble out (b) The earring is found beside a flower stand (c) A saucer of milk tempts the kitten out
  14. 14.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A baby yak wanders away from the herd”
    (a) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak (b) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out (c) The pot is moved into the sunshine
  15. 15.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is solved?
    One foggy morning, Fatima waited at the railway station. Her train was three hours late. Fatima opened her bag and found a book of puzzles. She and an old man, Mr Iyer, solved puzzles together. The train came, and Fatima had made a new friend.
    (a) One foggy morning, Fatima waited at the railway station. (b) She and an old man, Mr Iyer, solved puzzles together. (c) Her train was three hours late.
  16. 16.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
    On a hot summer night, Sneha read in her flat in Pune. Suddenly the lights went out, and her little brother cried. Sneha found a torch and made shadow animals on the wall. Her brother Arjun giggled at a shadow rabbit. Sneha told stories until the lights came back on.
    (a) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh (b) The lights go out and her little brother cries (c) A strong plank and rope make a new seat
  17. 17.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
    On a Tuesday evening, Pooja found a puppy in her building. The puppy had a collar, but no owner was nearby. Pooja drew posters and stuck them on every gate. A boy saw a poster and came running for Rocky, his puppy. Pooja waved goodbye as Rocky wagged his tail.
    (a) Posters help the owner find the puppy (b) A puppy cannot find its owner (c) They put on the spare tyre together
  18. 18.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A baby bird falls out of its nest”
    (a) His name is called on the loudspeaker (b) Clay on a stick lifts the marble out (c) The baby bird is put back in the nest
  19. 19.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is solved?
    After the lunch bell, Advik walked into the music room. A butterfly was beating its wings against the window. Advik opened the window wide and stepped back. Tanvi waved her notebook to guide it outside. Advik watched the butterfly flutter away into the sky.
    (a) A butterfly was beating its wings against the window. (b) Tanvi waved her notebook to guide it outside. (c) After the lunch bell, Advik walked into the music room.
  20. 20.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses”
    (a) She sings loudly without a microphone (b) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out (c) The glasses are found on top of his head
  21. 21.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A hard word makes her mind go blank”
    (a) The baker fixes one letter in icing (b) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it (c) He is allowed to bring it the next day
  22. 22.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is solved?
    On competition day, Nisha stood on stage in the town hall. Her mind went blank on the word “necessary”. Nisha recalled the rhyme Mrs Sen had taught her. She spelt it slowly, letter by letter, and got it right. Nisha won the silver cup and thanked Mrs Sen.
    (a) She spelt it slowly, letter by letter, and got it right. (b) Her mind went blank on the word “necessary”. (c) On competition day, Nisha stood on stage in the town hall.
  23. 23.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
    On Sports Day, Neel lined up at the sports ground. His running shoes had been mixed up, and they were too big! Neel did not panic and looked at the names inside. Coach Iqbal swapped them back with a boy in the next lane. Neel ran in the right shoes and came second.
    (a) His running shoes are the wrong size (b) The shoes are swapped back (c) The baby bird is put back in the nest
  24. 24.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
    One spring afternoon, Simran found a nest on her balcony. A baby sparrow had fallen out and was chirping loudly. Simran put on gloves and lifted it very gently. Dadi held the stool while she put it back in the nest. Simran smiled as the mother sparrow flew home.
    (a) The baby bird is put back in the nest (b) A baby bird falls out of its nest (c) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out
  25. 25.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is solved?
    One warm evening, Imran opened the garden shed. A long snake was curled up near the door. Imran stepped back slowly and did not touch it. Mr Reddy, a snake rescuer, carried it away safely. Imran learnt that snakes should be left to experts.
    (a) One warm evening, Imran opened the garden shed. (b) Mr Reddy, a snake rescuer, carried it away safely. (c) A long snake was curled up near the door.
  26. 26.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
    One windy afternoon, Aarav flew his kite in the playground. A strong gust blew the kite into the top of a neem tree. Aarav jumped and jumped, but he could not reach it. His friend Kiran brought a bamboo pole to poke it free. Aarav thanked Kiran, and the kite flew high again.
    (a) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free (b) A kite gets stuck high up in a tree (c) She sings loudly without a microphone
  27. 27.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is solved?
    One breezy evening, Tanmay played marbles in the back yard. His lucky blue marble rolled into a deep drain. Tanmay could not reach it with his arm or a stick. His sister Gita stuck clay on a stick and lifted it out. Tanmay thanked Gita and kept his marble safe.
    (a) One breezy evening, Tanmay played marbles in the back yard. (b) His sister Gita stuck clay on a stick and lifted it out. (c) His lucky blue marble rolled into a deep drain.
  28. 28.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
    One busy morning, Manav walked to the vegetable market. A goat broke its rope and began eating the spinach! Manav ran after the goat and held out a carrot. The goat followed the carrot back to Lakshmi, its owner. Lakshmi gave Manav a bunch of carrots as thanks.
    (a) The baby bird is put back in the nest (b) A goat runs loose and eats the spinach (c) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner
  29. 29.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
    On her birthday morning, Riya hurried to the bakery. The cake said “Happy Birthday, Rita” instead of Riya! Riya laughed and asked politely if it could be fixed. Uncle Jacob, the baker, added a neat y in icing. Riya carried home a cake with her name spelt right.
    (a) The wrong name is written on a cake (b) His name is called on the loudspeaker (c) The baker fixes one letter in icing
  30. 30.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Mud splashes all over a white uniform”
    (a) The torn page is mended with tape (b) The baby bird is put back in the nest (c) He changes into a clean spare uniform
  31. 31.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
    After the lunch bell, Advik walked into the music room. A butterfly was beating its wings against the window. Advik opened the window wide and stepped back. Tanvi waved her notebook to guide it outside. Advik watched the butterfly flutter away into the sky.
    (a) A butterfly is trapped at a window (b) The earring is found beside a flower stand (c) The window is opened to let it out
  32. 32.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “The cricket ball splashes into a pond”
    (a) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead (b) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out (c) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz
  33. 33.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is solved?
    One hot afternoon, Kabir played cricket by the village pond. Farhan hit the ball so hard that it splashed into the water. Kabir tried to reach it, but his arms were too short. He tied a basket to a stick and scooped the ball out. Kabir and Farhan cheered and went on with the game.
    (a) Farhan hit the ball so hard that it splashed into the water. (b) He tied a basket to a stick and scooped the ball out. (c) One hot afternoon, Kabir played cricket by the village pond.
  34. 34.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Nobody buys anything from the stall”
    (a) A bright sign and a bell bring buyers (b) Everyone sings along with her (c) Clay on a stick lifts the marble out
  35. 35.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A boat starts to leak”
    (a) A strong plank and rope make a new seat (b) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out (c) A rubber slipper plugs the crack
  36. 36.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A car tyre goes flat on a long trip”
    (a) They put on the spare tyre together (b) She sings loudly without a microphone (c) The blue splash is turned into a lake
  37. 37.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
    On competition day, Nisha stood on stage in the town hall. Her mind went blank on the word “necessary”. Nisha recalled the rhyme Mrs Sen had taught her. She spelt it slowly, letter by letter, and got it right. Nisha won the silver cup and thanked Mrs Sen.
    (a) A strong plank and rope make a new seat (b) A hard word makes her mind go blank (c) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it
  38. 38.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is solved?
    Early one Saturday, Ishaan ran to the colony park. The seat of the old swing had cracked in two. Ishaan asked the other children to help him mend it. Mrs Rao gave them a strong plank and some rope. By noon, Ishaan was swinging high on the new seat.
    (a) Early one Saturday, Ishaan ran to the colony park. (b) The seat of the old swing had cracked in two. (c) Mrs Rao gave them a strong plank and some rope.
  39. 39.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
    During a dry summer, Aisha saw a problem in the washroom. A tap was dripping, and water was being wasted. Aisha wrote a note and took it to the principal. Mr Khan, the plumber, fixed the tap the next day. Aisha smiled, because every drop of water matters.
    (a) A plumber fixes the dripping tap (b) A tap keeps dripping and wasting water (c) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner
  40. 40.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
    One stormy night, Diya heard a whimper in a lane in Kochi. A tiny puppy was shivering under a broken cart. Diya held out a biscuit and spoke softly to it. The puppy crept out and licked her hand. Diya named him Moti and made him a warm bed.
    (a) The window is opened to let it out (b) A puppy is shivering in the cold rain (c) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out

Answer key

  1. The red box was hiding under the very last seat.
  2. Raju and the others dug every evening for a month.
  3. Fresh baking soda makes it fizz
  4. Ms Gill let him bring it the next day.
  5. A rubber slipper plugs the crack
  6. The earring is found beside a flower stand
  7. At last she laughed, for the glasses were on his head!
  8. Her friend Kunal dug a moat to keep the water out.
  9. Mrs Bose, the guard, called the lift mechanic at once.
  10. Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak
  11. She sings loudly without a microphone
  12. A carrot leads the goat back to its owner
  13. Clay on a stick lifts the marble out
  14. Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak
  15. She and an old man, Mr Iyer, solved puzzles together.
  16. Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh
  17. Posters help the owner find the puppy
  18. The baby bird is put back in the nest
  19. Tanvi waved her notebook to guide it outside.
  20. The glasses are found on top of his head
  21. A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it
  22. She spelt it slowly, letter by letter, and got it right.
  23. The shoes are swapped back
  24. The baby bird is put back in the nest
  25. Mr Reddy, a snake rescuer, carried it away safely.
  26. A bamboo pole pokes the kite free
  27. His sister Gita stuck clay on a stick and lifted it out.
  28. A carrot leads the goat back to its owner
  29. The baker fixes one letter in icing
  30. He changes into a clean spare uniform
  31. The window is opened to let it out
  32. A basket tied to a stick scoops it out
  33. He tied a basket to a stick and scooped the ball out.
  34. A bright sign and a bell bring buyers
  35. A rubber slipper plugs the crack
  36. They put on the spare tyre together
  37. A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it
  38. Mrs Rao gave them a strong plank and some rope.
  39. A plumber fixes the dripping tap
  40. A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out

Free creative writing lessons, practice and worksheets at talentjr.in/creative-writing-for-kids